Democrats, veterans press for extended mental-health care for servicemembe

[lebkuchen]

More mental health resources are needed to deal with stress from Iraq and Afghanistan now, before those veterans develop even more serious mental problems, according to Democrats and veteran support agencies.

On Thursday both groups lobbied for legislation to increase funding for mental health treatment, to extend health-care coverage for veterans returning from war, and to force the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop a long-term plan for treating troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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Earlier, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson offered a mixed reaction to a host of Democrat-sponsored bills, voicing support for general plans to improve mental health care but rebuffing most of their legislative efforts.

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Nicholson opposed a measure to expand post-war health care coverage from two years to five years, saying it would needlessly complicate the current system.

But Dennis Cullinan, legislative director for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said mental health problems can take years to develop, and the extra years of health care coverage “gives these men and women an important safety net, and gives them peace of mind as they return from combat.”

Democrats also called for more funding for the department, estimating it needs between $100 million and $300 million more to adequately deal with current staffing and program shortfalls affecting troops already returning from overseas.

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Nicholson said his department is adequately funded.

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http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=29632

**Here's what ABCNews had to say about the Office of Veterans' Affairs when Nicholson, former chair of the RNC, was named to head the dept. by Bush:

He (Nicholson) will be taking over the Department of Veterans Affairs during a time of serious financial strain, when soldiers are returning from war and in the face of numerous budget battles.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Inauguration/story?id=371875&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

**How can Nicholson turn down hundreds of millions of dollars when so many of our wounded need the help? Where is his patriotism? Where is his sense of decency?

[TahitiNut]

1. That's an excellent headline for Stars & Stripes

Outstanding PR for Democrats. I'm rather surprised they didn't just say "Congressmen."

[xchrom]

2. wish they'd push for extended health care for everyone.

[lebkuchen]

5. Nicholson was a vet, taking over an administration w/a debt burden

and yet he says his budget is doing just fine DESPITE the unabated numbers of wounded arriving from Iraq and Afghanistan.

At a $400 billion a year price tag for Iraq alone, the rest of America is just going to have to wait its turn, though perhaps Nicholson has helped to send a few hundred million to civilians stateside because, hey!, according to Nicholson, the vets don't need the money~!

[Catch22Dem]

3. Great headline - nominated (n/t)

[seemunkee]

4. But they'll spend money on a salute the troop show today

with Hillary Duff. Yippee

[lebkuchen]

6. Hillary Duff today

Jessica and Nick yesterday. Woopdie doo!